Tempting the Player (Campus Wallflowers #4)

by Rebecca Jenshak

“I’m kidding,” I say with a small laugh. “Felix is gorg, of course, but this guy . . . he just runs by, and I feel a little breathless. I might need to take up a lunchtime jogging hobby. Do you think I can still catch him?” “You hate running.” She arches one brow at me while wearing an amused expression. “Hated. Past tense. It’s me and my new boyfriend’s favorite hobby.”

“It’s you,” I say, still locked onto his stunning eyes. His dark brows pull together, and his mouth is set in a straight line. His jawline is a work of art. He’s even hotter up close. Broodier, but hotter. “I mean, I recognize you. You run by my house every day. I’m Jane.”

I freeze under his touch, but then his voice is reassuring me as his big hands span out around my middle. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

I swivel in my chair to look directly at mystery man. He still hasn’t looked at me, but I get the sense he’s far more aware than he seems. “Twice in one day. Are you some sort of guardian angel?” A beat of silence hangs between us before he answers. “Just in the right place at the right time.” His voice is deep and smooth with a hint of indifference.

“You left to go to college and then transferred back?” “Do you always ask strangers in bars so many questions?” There’s the tiniest hint of a smile to tell me that he isn’t completely annoyed by me. “Sometimes,” I answer honestly.

“See you around, Jane.” “Wait.” I hop off the chair and take two steps after him. “You know my name, but I still don’t know yours.” He hesitates, but finally says, “Hendrick.”

When I’m alone, I let out a long breath. I forgot what this was like. Growing up in a house with three younger brothers, really four, since Brogan’s been a part of the family since he and Archer met in middle school, I’m no stranger to the chaos and mess, but I’d forgotten how much I crave a little peace and quiet. And how guilty that makes me feel.

We didn’t have a lot of money, and what little we did have Dad took with him, but nearly all traces of Mom and Dad are gone—something I’m sure I can thank Knox for. He tenses up at just the mention of our parents. That’s Knox—angry at the world.

“Buckle up,” I say as I pull the belt and nudge him with it. Reluctantly, he takes it and buckles before I shut the door. As I’m rounding the back of my truck, I come up short when I see her. She walks in a way it’s hard not to notice her. Long legs and that confident, bouncy stride. Jane’s steps slow when she sees me. Her long blonde hair is pulled up into a ponytail, the green ends swaying around her shoulders. Bright pink lips pull into a wide smile. “I’m starting to think you’re following me.”

“Well, I should get inside.” The music inside my truck increases in volume again. “Sounds like you’ve got a fun ride home in store.” I wait while she walks around the back of the truck, and she stops on the sidewalk. “You should swing by and get them food.” “Oh, I should, huh?” I arch one brow.

I smile for real as she hits me with a big mega-watt grin like she’s just solved all my problems. I freaking wish.

“My brother has a basketball game.” Oh, well, crap. I hadn’t accounted for him having plans. Also, I’m starting to get a cramp. “How many brothers do you have?” “Three,” he says. “No, four. Brogan isn’t related by blood, but he’s like a brother.”

“Do you run often?” he asks as I pant for air. “Oh yeah, totally.” I move behind him while we pass a group of people walking in the opposite direction.

His brows tug together. “You should be careful.” I snort a laugh that’s not very attractive, thinking he’s kidding. He’s not. “Your brother is right. You’re not very fun.” “No, I’m not.” His jaw tightens and a little muscle flexes in his cheek. “Then it’s a good thing you ran into me because I am the epitome of fun, and I’m going to make it my mission to make sure you have fun tomorrow night.”

One side of his mouth twitches with a tiny smile. “See you later, Jane.” “See you tomorrow night,” I call over my shoulder.

Brogan and Archer are with them, as well as some other football players. And Hendrick. Hendrick is here!

“You came? I mean, hey.” And then he does the craziest thing. He smiles at me.

“When did you get here? How was the game? Did your brother’s team win?” She glances at my empty hands. “Do you want something to drink?” One of her friends chuckles softly. “Maybe let him actually answer a question before you ask him three more.” “Sorry. I’m just so happy you came.”

She continues to eye me carefully, then purses her lips. “Hmmm. Well, that makes my job as your fun tour guide a little more difficult, but not impossible.”

“I can’t stay long, but I wanted to stop by.” “You’re leaving already?!” She shakes her head adamantly. “Oh no. Now that you’re here, there is no way I’m letting you go.”

“You know it, Hannah.” Felix winks at her. She rolls her eyes as we take over their side of the table. “Hannah?” I ask. How many names does this girl have?

“It’s nothing,” she says. “Are you any good at beer pong?” “Once upon a time, but probably not anymore.” She picks up the ball from the table and holds it between her fingers. “I hope you’re being modest because I’m terrible and I really don’t like beer. You’re going to need to carry us to victory, Champ.” The nickname doesn’t annoy me so much when she says it. My brother grins at me from the opposite end of the table. “How long has it been?” A long fucking time. “Not so long I can’t kick your ass.”

She shoots me an apologetic grimace. “I told you I was terrible.” “One bad throw doesn’t make you terrible.” She cocks her head to the side. “We need a way to distract them. Any ideas?” “The only things that distract those two from winning are women and booze.” “Well, I don’t think booze is going to do it in this case.” Her eyes twinkle with mischief. “Women it is.” She starts to take off the baggy black sweater she’s wearing. “I knew I should have worn a dress.”

“How’s this?” she asks. “Distracting,” I answer honestly as I try to pull my gaze away. “Good.” She flashes a satisfied smile. “I’ll distract on defense, and you play offense.”

Definitely not. I shake my head slowly. “Nah. I have a better idea.” Her eyes light up. “You do?” I lean over and whisper the plan in her ear, all the while trying not to think too hard about the way my body reacts to having her so close or the way I’ve started to associate that coconut and vanilla scent with her. “Really?” she asks as she pulls back. “That’ll work?” “Oh yeah. Trust me.” “I do.”

I am so giddy, I can’t tell if it’s from the alcohol or him. Something shifted between us. I wouldn’t say I’ve won him over, but he seems to be having fun now. I’m going to go ahead and call that a win.

“Right. I almost forgot. You lied to me.” I bump his shoulder with mine. He freezes and his mouth falls open like he’s about to offer an apology. “Why didn’t you just tell me you were a big shot professional football player when I was peppering you with questions at the bar, Hendrick Holland?”

“It’s a long story.” “I have all kinds of time.”

He grins. “Talking about myself is not nearly as exciting as hearing about you.” “So, you do think I’m exciting?”

“You want to play a game?” His playful smirk has my heart beating wildly. “I don’t know if I can trust you. I saw your distraction technique.”

“No one knows. Not even my brothers.” “I almost kissed you!” “I wouldn’t have let it get that far.” But I don’t know if that’s true. I almost did.

“What’s up? Why are we having a family heart-to-heart at two in the morning?” Knox asks. “Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”

I keep my gaze on my food. “What can I do for you, Mr. Holland?” “Mr. Holland is my dad.” He slides into the seat across from me. “And I hate him.”

“No.” He shakes his head, the dark brown strands bouncing around with the movement. “I’m sorry about how you found out. I should have stayed in the background. I shouldn’t have gone to the party or spent so much time hanging around when you didn’t realize who I was. But I’m not really sorry about that either, because it meant I was there that night, and my presence might have kept you safe.”

“Hey, Hannah Montana.” “I’m too hungover to deal with you today, Walters.”

I fixed the leaky sink in the hall bathroom, but I’m not a plumber so you might want to have someone check that too.”

I’m too scared to leave even knowing I could slip into the hallway and disappear into the crowd. Someone was following me. My eyes sting with the threat of tears and I pull out my phone. Everything is blurry as I punch in the number. I let my eyelids fall closed and one tear slides down my cheek. “Jane?” His deep voice and the authoritative way he answers makes my throat close up.

“Jane?” Hendrick’s tone takes on a hard, but somehow comforting, edge. What sounds like a truck starting up in the background interrupts the silence, and then he says, “I’m on my way. Where are you?”

Jane sits on the floor in a ball, arms wrapped around her legs and head buried in her thighs. She glances up at me, eyes wide with terror, and it freezes me. I’ve protected a lot of people, but I have never felt this insane pull with a client. Keep them safe, avoid danger. See it before it happens and redirect. If you have to act, you’ve already failed. And I feel like such a fucking failure. She scrambles to her feet and launches herself at me before I have time to prepare.

“Hey,” I say, voice hoarse. “You’re all right. I’m here. Are you hurt?”

I look up to see Jane in the doorway. “Hey,” I say in a half-pant because I’m out of breath. Knox takes the opportunity to sweep my foot out from under me and I land with a thud on the rubber flooring. Motherfucker.

“Thanks for the workout, Henny.” He winks at me again. “Later, Hollywood.”

“I am so embarrassed. I made you come save me from a guy with a camera. And I know this guy.” I hold up the card. “He’s been here since last semester. I was just so panicked when I thought someone was following me.” Hendrick steps in front of me and places both hands on my face.

“Listen to me. Some guy you didn’t recognize was tailing you around campus when you were alone. You did the right thing by calling me. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” I try to pull away, but he won’t let me. “Say it,” he says, eyes darting to my mouth. “Say it, Jane.” “I did the right thing.” “You did,” he says, like he doesn’t think I believe my own words.

“I don’t care if the guy is harmless or if it’s a little girl selling cookies, someone makes you feel unc...

So tired of feeling scared and anxious and like my world is in chaos, I do the thing I wanted to do weeks ago—I lean in to kiss him. Stopping millimeters from his lips, I glance up, giving him time to stop me. My heart beats rapidly in the seconds I wait for any reaction from him. And just when I think we’re going to be locked in a stare-off until I make a move, he cups the back of my head and guides my lips to his in a crushing kiss.

“We should talk.” “O-kay. Talk first.” “Not here.” He grabs his keys from the top of the dresser. “Let’s go for a drive.”

“You’re not walking, and we need to talk.” “I have nothing else to say to you.” I try the door handle, but it’s locked. “What, are you going to jump out?” he asks, one brow cocked all smug-like. “Stop the damn truck, Hendrick!” I yell. He slows and pulls along the curb. I find the unlock button and have my door open and I’m jumping out before he’s come to a complete stop. I storm onto the sidewalk and start walking. He climbs out and comes around the front of the truck. “You’re going the wrong direction.” Crap, he’s right.

He smiles, looking like I just took a weight off his shoulders instead of handing him the job of keeping me safe. “You won’t even know I’m there.” That seems highly unlikely.

My phone vibrates in my hand. Hendrick Relax. I’m here. Two o’clock. Gray sweatshirt.